Technology Tip
Dave Pelland has extensive experience covering the business use of technology, networking and communications tools by companies of all sizes. Dave's editorial and corporate experience includes more than 10 years editing an electronic technology and communications industry newsletter for a global professional services firm.

Small Business Cybersecurity While Traveling

Small Business Cybersecurity While Traveling

Whether you’re pursuing business opportunities or getting away for a break, it’s important to understand the wide range of cyber security risks that travelers face and to take the necessary security precautions.

Hackers know that travelers are in unfamiliar locations, easily distracted, and often running from place to place. All of these factors combine to reduce the careful attention we should be paying when we log on, and increase the opportunities for hackers to steal our personal and company information.

Before You Go

As you’re preparing for a trip, it’s important to pay attention to cyber risks. In broad terms, you want to reduce the amount of important data you take with you, and work to protect the data that’s going to be stored on your devices.

A few steps before you leave can reduce risk in transit or at your destination. Some helpful measures to consider:

  • Back up your devices. You should be doing this regularly, but backups are especially important if your devices are lost, stolen or hacked during your trip. You may need to replace a device, or reset it to factory settings to replace your data.
  • Remove sensitive information if possible. For instance, you may need files related to one customer during a trip, but you won’t want to expose files for other customers unnecessarily.
  • Update your software. It’s important to make sure your security software and any applications on your devices are up to date, since hackers routinely target vulnerabilities in older applications.
  • Consider installing VPN software. A virtual private network establishes a direct, encrypted connection between two servers. This is important for travelers because a VPN that prevents anyone from intercepting data as it travels between your device and a wi-fi hotspot.

It’s also a good idea to install two-factor authentication for any account that offers it. This requires you to enter two forms of information, such as a password and a number texted to your phone, as you log on. This is a smart step anyway, and it provides important protection while you’re traveling.

If you’re going to travel internationally, research your destination and pay careful attention to any requirements at border crossings. In some countries, travelers may be asked to power on their devices and share their passwords with border inspectors. To reduce the risk of sensitive information being compromised, consider traveling with a nearly empty device and accessing data you need from the cloud at your destination.

During Your Trip

As you’re traveling, you want to be especially careful about how and where you connect your devices. Hackers have long created false wi-fi hotspots in airports and cafes designed to harvest log-in information and keystrokes, so you don’t want to access a public wi-fi network unless you use VPN software.

At a hotel, it’s important to double-check the network name and any required passwords before logging on. Similarly, don’t use any computers in a hotel business center, since those often have malicious software designed to steal data from unsuspecting users.

It’s also a good idea to avoid any public recharging kiosks. While it’s tempting to top off your battery before a travel leg, public charging stations may have been compromised with software that steals data or installs malware on your device.

By taking careful precautions, you can travel while keeping your data safe.


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